AFTER DINNER POSE

FROM LEFT FRONT ROW: DAYO ILORI, DARE AKANDE, ADESINA OGUNLANA, YINKA FAROUNBI, ISA BUHARI

STANDING FROM LEFT: TAJUDEEN IBRAHIM, YEMI OKEWOYE, ADEKUNLE OJO, KEMI PINHEIRO S.A.N., MR. OGUNTADE, DAVE AJETOMOBI, GBENGA ONIYIRE, CHIEF BOLAJI AYORINDE S.A.N AND MR. ADEBOWALE KAMORU

3RD WEEK OCTOBER 2008 (20TH -24TH)

SQUIB DIARY
MON. 20TH OCTOBER 2008
The Squib’s out-The cover story was on the new list of potential silks. Came to the Ikeja High Court. Later moved to Ikorodu with some other Tigers to attend a workshop organized by the Citizens Assistance Centre and the NBA Ikorodu in collaboration with the British Council and the Department for International Development (DFID) via the Security, Justice and Growth Project.
As a restless gecko, left the workshop for a while to take a nap in the shades. Came back in time to meet ‘light refreshment’ in the form of pounded yam, egusi soup and fish

TUE. 21ST OCTOBER 2008
No case in court today, so had good time to gecko about, on the case of an alleged fake lawyer. Diary, trust me to keep you posted.

WED. 22ND OCTOBER 2008
Was at the Ikeja High Court, today. For a case. By 9.30a.m, was free as matter was adjourned.

THUR. 23RD OCTOBER 2008
Was at the Lagos High Court. Oh, not the Igbosere Road Division. Ruth the one at the TBS. Finished with my case early enough, to venture on a squib adventure to the Nigerian Law School Lagos campus. The toilets were still in fairly good shape almost in the same condition they were twelve years ago when I was a pupil there.
Later in the evening, went for dinner at the JADE GARDEN, a Chinese restaurant. Was not alone. About twenty-five other lawyers were present. Dinner was held in honour of Adekunle Ojo esq, elected 2nd vice-president of the NBA. September 28 2008 and Dave Ajetomobi esq elected the chairman NBA Ikeja on June 30 2008.
Great evening I tell you. Can’t wait to tell you some of the stories and yarns I heard there, privately. Oh not here, not now. I said privately

FRI. 24TH OCTOBER 2008
Came to the Ikeja High Court in the afternoon. Was at the Secretariat of the Tigers for one or two things. Have heard, since Wednesday that 7 more lawyers including Biodun Owonikoko and Professor Imram Oluwole Smith have been cleared to join the earlier number of 57 candidates for the final interview on October 20 2008.

2ND WEEK OCTOBER 2008 (13TH - 17TH)

MON. OCTOBER 13 2008
The Squib’s out. Cover story on the existence of a fake law – Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules. Was at the Lagos High Court (TBS) today. For a case, that could not and did not go on because for months on end, records of proceedings in the case could not be produced by the Registry of the court. Pathetic, no, tragic!

TUE. OCTOBER 14 2008
Spent the morning in the chambers. Later came to Ikeja for a meeting.

WED. OCTOBER 15 2008
Was first at the Lagos High Court Igbosere. For a Pre-Trial Conference (PTC). From there left for the Ikeja High Court. Attended NBA Ikeja Exco meeting. Y’ know, a gecko can also be an office holder.

THUR. OCTOBER 16 2008
Came, in the afternoon to the Secretariat of the Tigers (NBA Ikeja learnt of the case of a Tiger whose car was “oppressively” impounded by LASTMA. Was part of the NBA Ikeja delegation to the LASTMA “Remove Park” Alausa to retrieve the Tiger’s car.

FRI. OCTOBER 17 2008
Was at the Max, Kirikiri, today for just about 11/2 hours. Left for the Ikeja High Court. Made preparations with some Tigers for the take-off tomorrow of the TIGER SPORTIF, the Sports Club of the NBA Ikeja.

FIRST WEEK OCTOBER 2008

SQUIB DIARY

MON .6TH OCTOBER 2008
Was at the Ikeja High Court. The Squib’s out. The cover was a Critique of the so called Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure Rules) 2008, by learned counsel, Adejare Kembi. The court premises, was, seemingly so, filled to the brim with lawyers, litigants and a few lay abouts. Tigers (NBA Ikeja branch members) held their monthly meeting. Lively gathering as usual. General monthly Birthday celebration culture started in the Tiger Bar today. With a big, but rather gristly and not so yummy cake for the celebrants and for the whole house. Good idea but please let the cake be memorable!

TUE. 7TH OCTOBER 2008
Again was at Ikeja High Court. Heard that in far away Lagos High Court, a particular honourable judge took time off in the middle of a case to abuse, insult, denigrate and even prophecy against the SQUIB and her Publisher Adesina Ogunlana Esq. According to the judge, the SQUIB is trash, rubbish and her Publisher a dumb lawyer who only knows how to write rubbish about judges of the Lagos State High Court. A junior counsel who wanted to make progress in life and in law was advised to check out of the evil chambers! The honourable Judge is Funmilayo Atilade J. our response here? As the court pleases! We are used to such high praises and recognition from the Bench.

WED. 8TH OCTOBER 2008
Was at the Ikeja High Court, had quite a long day in Justice Candide-Johnson’s court. Well, the judge did not arrive the hallowed ground until 10:35a.m. Well, the maybe the Judge was not to be blamed that much. The court’s clock itself ran forty minutes late!
The Candide-Johnson court is a lecture room any day for um, lazy, unorganised and, em er, (shall we say it?) none too bright – attorneys.
Only that the lectures from the bench could take a while and you know what that means, especially if you are a lawyer, like many of us self-employed counsel, who eat on the wings.
Ah, I forget to mention the terrible condition of the bar in Justice Candide’s court. Well much later on this in the Learned Squib.

THUR. 9TH OCTOBER 2008
Came to the Lagos High Court Igbosere. Saw quite a lot of – Action Congress “en postered” buses on the Street leading off to King’s College. Heard that the Action Congress was holding a rally preparatory to the 11th October 2008 Local Government elections. Did one or two un-geckoish activities in the court and left.

FRI. 10TH OCTOBER 2008
Was at the Ikeja High Court for a brief period. Moved over to Lagos to see, to met and plan with Daddy 3. Only geckos would understand the yarn

LAST WEEK SEPT/FIRST WEEK OCT 2008

MON. 29TH SEPTEMBER 2008
Public Holiday to mark the end of 30 day long Muslim fast. Of course no court. The squib, in consequence not out. Thank God after a two months partial closure the 3rd Mainland Bridge was re-opened early this morning.

TUE. 30TH SEPTMBER 2008
Public Holiday. For the same reason above. The courts remained closed.

WED. 1ST OCTOBER 2008
Public Holiday, to mark the October 1 1960 independence of Nigeria. Of course the courts remained close. Wonderful, wonderful country. Three public holidays in a row!

THUR. 2ND OCTOBER 2008
Spent a little time at the Lagos High Court. Moved later to the Ikeja High Court.
From some what afar, saw a group of V.I.Ps somewhere on the grounds near the chief Judge’s office. Before long learnt that they were a group of retired judges of Lagos State who came to partake of the “kindness and generousity” of the incumbent leadership of the Lagos State Judiciary which was giving out brand new TOYOTA AVENSIS CARS to retired judges of the state. Before now there were serious but underground complaints by some retired judges that they faced constant humiliation and inconvenience due to having jalopies for vehicles.
While many of the retired judges who came to collect their cars expressed their gratitude and satisfaction for the Judiciary’s kind gesture, former Chief Judge, Ibitola Adebisi Sotuminu C.J sang a different tune.
The former leader of the Lagos Judiciary (2001-2004) declined to collect her car because the colour did not suit her. While a grey coloured car was allocated to her Sotuminu C.J insisted on getting a black-car. When a black car was not readily available “mama” as Sotuminu C.J was better known when in service, well, um, drove off. Geckos heard some by-standers wondering whether it would not have been better for ‘mama’ to collect the car and get it a coat of paint of a suitable colour.

FRI. 3RD OCTOBER 2008
Was at the Lagos High Court. Briefly came to the Ikeja High Court. Geckoed and lawyered about for some time before heading off to Geckosville

SECOND WEEK SEPTEMBER 2008 (15TH -19TH)

SQUIB DIARY
MON. 15TH SEPTEMBER 2008
Ikeja High Court. Was there. Had a case before Hon. Justice OBD. ‘Lawyers and Judges’ traffic still light in the court. The Squib’s out. Cover Story on the emergence of Adekunle Ojo as the new 2nd Vice-President of the Nigerian Bar Association.

TUE. 16TH SEPTEMBER 2008
The magistrate court, Sabo, Yaba. Was there. Saw a magistrate frowning against rather unethical conduct of a defendant’s counsel. The magistrate wondered how counsel would join hands with a litigant to frustrate due adjudication of matters before the court.
Good talk. Hope that other adjudications will be this strong and firm. No single public toilet in the entire court compound. So how do litigants and counsel relieve themselves? Even the toilets for the members of staff are in the main, bad. The judiciary can do much better than this. Its not only judges and magistrates that should enjoy good toilets.
Em, by the way I saw a wonder in the office of the head of administration at the Sabo Magistrate Court. The wonder is the visitor’s chair in the madam’s office. That chair, if you can call it that reminded me of the squashed up mouth of an idiot. It is an affront to ask any visitor there to “take your seat”. It is an insult to the office holder. It is an embarrassment, an eye sore to the judiciary. I beg, that mangled carcass of a visitor’s chair in the office of the Assistant chief registrar, Magistrate Court Sabo Yaba should be changed immediately

WED. 17TH SEPTEMBER 2008
Was at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti Street Yaba. Spent some time and left. Can you imagine this-there is a place they sell good honey in this famous police station. Certainly one of the few sweet spots in that station.
Later in the afternoon, heard of the closure of the CHANNELS TELEVISION STATION by policemen and State Security Services Operatives.
CHANNELS’ offence-broadcast of claim that President Musa-Yar’dua would resign from office after an imminent cabinet reshuffle. According to government, that claim was untrue. But did that justify the closure of the T.V station?

THUR. 18TH SEPTEMBER 2008
Was at the Lagos High Court, Igbosere. The public toilet there (the one in the corridor to the court of Appeal) still in good condition. Well kept. ‘Strolled’ into Hon. Justice Oluwayemi’s Court. Wow what a beautiful, decorum-inducing and justice inciting court room. Neat, very well lit court. Nice, very nice wood paneling. Even an accused will not mind to be sentenced to a long stretch at the Max, Kirikiri, in this court. Hope the structures last however.

FRI. 19TH SEPTEMBER 2008
Was at the SCID Panti, a follow up to my Wednesday visit. Today was engaged in a discussion by a cop in the administrative section of the Legal Department.
COP: Ha barrister you are here?
Lawyer: Yes I am.
COP: What you gave to do the job was small. Not enough to do the work.
Lawyer: But the job has been done. The verification of the sureties houses have been done.
COP: Which work is done? He said you gave only …… naira
Lawyer: That’s what I have. And the job is done
COP: The job is done? Well let me tell you, how can you just give somebody just ………… naira and expect him to go to all those places in Oworo and swear to affidavit backing his visits. No problem since the officer concerned has done the work. But if were me, never!
Lawyer: Well, thank you.